12-08-2020, 09:20 PM
Thank you for the quick replies, guys!
Yeah, this is where the Thonian Rand is described in detail.
I also think that there was a player in the later stages of the original Blackmoor campaign. (The one that I've been referring to as "Phase III", 1978 until Marfeldt's exit from the campaign, some time in 1981 or 1982.)
It's true, though, that this is a trope that pops up in later TSR publications that have a Blackmoor flair, like "Destiny of Kings", and "Crown of Ancient Glory". The whole "Markovia" sub-setting fits with what I know from the original campaign, but I can see how the published version of the Iron Duke, especially in the version of the omnipotent evil mastermind, might not necessarily be based only on the original campaign.
This is why I asked: Like Aldarron, I'm 99% sure that there is no mention of the Iron Duke in the MMRPG, even though the Comeback Inn is such a central location in the game. I've even checked the files with an in-document search program, and - nothing. This was a rather big surprise to me.
I can see, though, how ZGG perhaps would have shunned both the slightly racist Ruritania angle of the story, as well as a connection to the DC universe and the other Markov of TSR fame - from Ravenloft.
Havard Wrote:DA3 adds more to the Iron Duke and The Rand. Not sure if the D20 version of City of the Gods also has info on him? I don't have that book handy at the moment...
Yeah, this is where the Thonian Rand is described in detail.
Aldarron Wrote:I'm 99% certain the Iron Duke is not mentioned at all in the d20 books. I don't recall ever seeing him mentioned. That may be because he was apparently not a Blackmoor character, but something TSR came up with.
I also think that there was a player in the later stages of the original Blackmoor campaign. (The one that I've been referring to as "Phase III", 1978 until Marfeldt's exit from the campaign, some time in 1981 or 1982.)
It's true, though, that this is a trope that pops up in later TSR publications that have a Blackmoor flair, like "Destiny of Kings", and "Crown of Ancient Glory". The whole "Markovia" sub-setting fits with what I know from the original campaign, but I can see how the published version of the Iron Duke, especially in the version of the omnipotent evil mastermind, might not necessarily be based only on the original campaign.
Havard Wrote:There is a mention of the Iron Duke in p 174 of the D20 Dave Arneson's Blackmoor Sourcebook.
But thanks for mentioning this. Its been a while since I looked at this book and I had forgotten how little mention there is of the Thonian Empire in the book.
This is why I asked: Like Aldarron, I'm 99% sure that there is no mention of the Iron Duke in the MMRPG, even though the Comeback Inn is such a central location in the game. I've even checked the files with an in-document search program, and - nothing. This was a rather big surprise to me.
I can see, though, how ZGG perhaps would have shunned both the slightly racist Ruritania angle of the story, as well as a connection to the DC universe and the other Markov of TSR fame - from Ravenloft.